Retractable clothesline



Sept. 13, 1949. J. c. BoRuP RETRCTABLE CLOTHESLINE 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled 001'.. 28, 1947 Wad* Sept. 13, 1949. J. c. BORUP 2,481,638

RETRACTABLE CLOTHESLINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1947 /NVENT'OBym GEW Bia-'MM Patented Sept. 13, 1949 RETRACTABLE CLOTHESLINEV James C.Borup, Sherman Oaks, Calif., assgnor to Bocaroy ManufacturingCorporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of CaliforniaApplication October 28, 1947:', Serial' No. 782,573

(C1. 2li-119.15)

1l. Claims. 1

rIihis invention relatesto a retractable clothes line, and it is anvobject of the invention to provide a simple, practical, easily operatedmechanism involving one or more lines suitable for useas clothes lines.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism ofthe general character referred to involving a plurality of lines carriedon a single spool and simultaneously operable to an extended Ioper-atingposition where they are tight and parallel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of thecharacter referred to involving a simple compact housing 'constructionfor the line carrying spool and serving to protect the lines when .theyare not in use so that they remain clean and always ready y'forimmediate use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanismwherein the housing has a line aperture passing the several lines fromthe housing, which aperture is closed by the cross arm that carries theouter ends of the lines when the lines Iare in a retracted position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of thegeneral character referred to wherein the fastener for receiving theline carrying cross arm is operable to tension the lines so that they`may be readily established in a taut condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the general.character referred to wherein there is a manually operable lock for thespoolv that may be set to hold the spool 'against operation so the linesare held taut.

A further object of the invention is to provide ya mechanism of thegeneral character referred to including a safety catch in connectionwith the spool checking it against operation at an excessive speed.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the `following detailed description' of a typicalpreferred form and application of the invention, throughout whichdescription reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a typical installation of the apparatus ormechanism embodying the present invention the spool unit of themechanism being shown carried by a `Wall while the fastener thatreceives and holds the line assembly is shown carried by a post. Fig. 2is 4a view of a portion of the part shown -in Fig. l, being a view 'ofthe spool unit' showin-g the' line assembly fully retracted so :that thecross arm thereof closes the iii iii;

housing of the spool unit. Fig. 3 is a reduced plan view of the partsshown-in Fig. 1, being a reduced view taken as indicated by line 3-3= onFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a reduced front elevation of the structure shown inFig. 2 being a view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 isa detailed view taken as indicated by line 5--5V on Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is anenlarged -detailed sectional View of the spool unitvbeing a view takenas indicated by lin-e ifi-6 on Fig. 1. Fig. 7 isa transverse sectionalview of the structure shown in Fig. 6, being a view taken as indicatedbyline 'I-l on Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detailed transverse view of a--partof the mechanism taken substantially as indicated by line 8--8 on Fig.6, and Fig. 9 isa detailed. View taken as indicatedby line 9--43r onFig. 6.

The mechanism of the" present invention in'- volves, general-ly, aspool' unit A applicable to a Xed support such Vas a wall W or the like,a line assembly B anchored to andY handled by thespool iunit, and areleasable fastener C applicable to a fixed support such as a postA P orthe like, `and adapted to receive and hold the outer end of the lineassembly. The mechanism of the present invention is such that it may beused or installed in various situations or locations as for instanceYbetween spaced walls, posts, or other suchsupports. For sake of examplethe spool unit A is shown applied to a wall W while the fastener C isshown applied to a post P. When theY mechanism 'is in operating positionor isV in condition for use the line assembly is extended so that itextendsV between the spool unit A and the fastener C, :as shown in Figs.l and 3 of the drawings, whereas when the mechanism is notin usey theline assembly is retracted to be housed by or within the spool unit A,the fastener C being'left" `remote from the spool unit A to remainv onthesupport or post P.

The spool unit A involves, generally, a simple spool. l0, a mountingbracket II, trunn'ions I2 projecting from or carried by the bracket I Iand carrying the spool I-Il, and a cover I3 applicable to the. bracketII and cooperating therewith to form a housing. The unit A furtherinclud-es a springmeans I4' normally yieldingly tending to rotatethespool in a position to wind the line assembly thereon, lock means I5preferably such as to be manually operable and acting to lock the spoolI'll against rotation, and stop means IIi operable to stop the` spool inorder to check excessive rotation thereof.

The; spool I0f is primarily av mounting or carrier for the several linesL` of the'line assembly B. In the particular case illustrated the spoolis shown as involving a cylindrical rim carried by and between endplates or discs 2l. The rim 20 is preferably a shell-like structure ofsuch size and length as to adequately accommodate the lines L of theassembly B and to be properly accommodated in the housing established bythe bracket II 'and cover I3.

The mounting bracket II may vary widely in form and construction.However, it is preferred that it be such as to involve an elongate baseplate 23 and projecting arms 24 at theV ends kof the base plate. Thearms form ends or end plates for the housing. In the particular caseillustrated the base plate 23`v is channel-shaped in cross section sothat it has projecting flanges 25 to which the cover I3 may 'belreadilyattached. rDhe plate 23 may be provided with suitable openings 26 toreceive suitable fasteners'Z'I by which the spool unitV is attached tothe support, as for 'instance,to a wall-W; In the case illustrated thefasteners 21 are shown as bolts rigidly and permanently securingthe-baseplate tojthe wall. The arms v24 are forwardly projecting partslocated at the ends 'ofsthe'plateY 23 and may be rigidly joined tothebase-plate in any suitable manner.vv In the case illustrated the armsare Vhown-as parts formed separate from the rbase plate 23,v inwhich-lease they may be joined Ato VtheV base plate'by suitableconnecting brackets 28.l Y A Y The` trunnions I2 provided for carryingthe spool I0 are supported by the arms 24 to projectrinwardlytherefrom-roi'V toward Veach other from the inner sides of thearms andso that they are Vsup-ported 4on a common axis being the axis on whichthe spool rotates. In the case illustrated'thetrunnions I2 are rigidlycarried by the arrns24 and nthey fa`re shown as having at sided heads 29carried in suitably shaped openings 30 'in Vthe arms 24 so that they arepositivelyheld against rotation.,

The spool IU is supported by and'between the trunnions I2 and so that itis freely rotatable on the trunnions. In thev preferred construction themounting of the spool is through anti-friction bearings 3| in which casethe inner races of the bearings are supportedon the" trunnions while theouter races of the bearings are held inv openings Y32 formed centrallyin 4the plates 2`I of the spool. 'I'

The cover I3 is preferably formed or designed to t and cooperate withthe bracket construction hereinabove described to cooperate therewithinforming a suitable housing carrying the spool and other parts o'f theunitA. vIn the particular case illustrated the cover'is va sheet metalpart involving a! top 34, a bottom' 35 and a front 36. The top 34 andbottom 35 are horizontal parts joined to the flanges 25 of the baseplate'23 and they projectf f orwardly'asV shown in Fig. 7. The front 36extends between the oruterror projecting end portions of the top-andbottom and in the case illustrated is inclined to extend. downwardly andsomewhat inwardly as it extends from the forward end of the portion 'ofthe top 34 to the bottom v35, there being a rounded corner portion 31Vconnecting theV front 36 and bottom 35, which corner portion' isconcentric with the spool located within the housing. Arfeature of thefront 36 of the 'cover I3 is the line opening 38 provided in the front36 extending longitudinally thereof to accommodateY the several lines Land the cross Yarm of the line assembly, 4as will be hereinafterdescribed. In'the particular case illustrated the line opening 38 isprovided with a suitable reinforcing frame 39.

The spring means I4 for operating the spool I0 normally tends to turnthe spool in a manner to wind the lines L onto the spool. vIn thepreferred construction this means involves a singleVspringisanclioredgis a core member 45 arranged concentrically withinthe spool and carried by heads -46 ons-the inner ends of the trunnionsI2.

Spring guiding flanges 41 extend inwardly from Y the plates 2I tooverlie the end portions of the member 45. The flanges 41 are concentricwith andY surround 'the member 45; with some;clear ance, see Fig. 6. g[The lock means I5 is afmanually operableele.- mentV ofthe mechanismOperable to engage.-the spool and positively stop it against rotation.I.This meansincludes one or more lockpins 50 ucarried bythe housing andoperable by fahand1e-5 Itoengage the spool. In the particular caseillustrated there are twolike diametrically opposite lock pins50.1carried in guide openings- 52 in one'arm-24 of bracket II. The guideopenings 52 are parallel with each other and with theaxis of the spoolso that the innerv ends of the pins 50 face one end of the spool. Theend plate 2l -of the spool opposed by the pins 50 is provided withsocketsf53forreceiving the ends of the pins when the lock/means isactuated A single handle 5I connectsthe outer ends of the pins 58 to theexterior of the arm 24 which carries the pins. To operate the means l 5itis merely necessary to engage thehandle 5I `and move'the pins 50inwardly so that they enter` the sockets 53. With the pins engaged inthe sockets 53.the spool is positively locked 'against rotation. 1 Thesafety stop `IIS is designed to prevent the spool from operating at anexcessive speed. In the case illustrated this means involves `stoprollers 60 between the end plates 2l and overlying flanges 6I on theinner sides of the arms 24 of the bracket I I. The periphery of each;end plate 2 Iv is concentric with the spool and is recessed at 63.tocarry a roller 60. The bottom ofthe recess is cut away or provided witha flat portion normally accommodating the roller. The flat part istangential to the axis of the spool. The flanges 5I overlie the rollercarrying peripheral portions of the end plates or'discs 2| and when thespool rotates in excess of a given speed centrifugal force throws therollers out so that they wedge between the end plates and the `flanges6I, stopping rotation of the spool. s s The line Yassembly B preferablyincludes a plurality of like'lines L and a common or single cross arm7l)` to'which the outer end of each line is attached. The inner ends ofthe lines are anchored to the spool I0 of unit A. It is preferred inpractice that the lines be arranged and related so that they aresubstantially parallel and theysm'ayv be equally spaced apart as shownin Fig-3 of the drawings. The cross arm 'I0 is preferably a beamlikemember of'such form as to berigid and is such as to cooperateV with the'front 36of unit A so that when the lines are retracted or wound ontothe spool IIJ `the crcssjarm forms'a cover or closurefor the opening 38in the front 38. In the case illustratedtmY cross-arm isgshown 3ST-aromas 5 shapedin cross section, in which1 cet-seitv hasfa rib 'H5 towhich the lines l. -a-reconn'ectedI by means o`f= suitablefastenersl 12and it has a flat-sided body 'W of such length andV width' as' to fitover and coverthe" opening 318 when the rib -is' positioned toproject'intothe housing'through` thev opening.

The' releasable fastener Cpreferably involves e. pivoted3 hand lever8%-, means releasabl'y' coupling the crossarm llltothe hand lever; and alat-cli for`v holding the hand lever inx an operated posiiti-orr. In thepreferred construction` illustrated the fastener' includes a baseplate-` 82' adapted to be coupled toa suitablel support" such as` apostA by fasteners E3; Ears 531i project from the plate t2 and'carrypins 85'* that carry' the hand lever 80". 'Ihehandl lever'i isshowny as Vdividedl into-'spaced arms-'85; the inner ends of which aroconnected tovears Bl'byv the pins 85; A handle- 8'F isv carried betweenthe-outer ends-'cil the arms 86=.

'The-means'provided for rel'easably coupling the cross' armTtotli'eliandflever ispref'erably 'a' hook. means and as shown in thedrawings may involve Aa hook 15S-'projectingY from each` arm BfS of thehand lever in aA manner to'receiveandv hold: ai rod 89' carried; by4 thearm l04x throughbrackets '90. The-rod; is` carried-midway between theends of the cross arm 70 to be spaced from the side cf the body' 13'"oppositeI that from whichv the Vrib'- 'Fi projects. The hooks 88 arepreferably' locatedl at arr intermediate point between the ends of' thelever 8i)J so that la' person operating the lever through the handle 8Thas a distinctY mechanical advantage in operating the lever to movethecross arm.

The' latch provided for holding the lever t is vshown as, including a.ratchet arm-.91' pivoted to ears BZon' the base 82 vbya pivot'pin 93.The arm 91A engages overa pin 54' carriedbetweenfthe arms '8 andl hasratchet notchesv 9'5, in its lower edge engageable with the pin 95. The'ratchet" arm- 9i is freely pivoted so that it normally is held inengagement with the pinv vtilt through the action of gravity. As the arm80 is operated to tighten the linesB', thatisf, whenitisswungin thedirection indicated by the arrow in` Fig.. 1, it' is' suc'- cessivelyengaged` in the-notches Sdandwhen the pin 94 is received in a notch 95the outward or return movement of the arm-t is prevent-edi To release4the arm- 88- fcr oui'fward"A movement it is merely necessary to-liftthe-ratchet arm tto-disengage it from the-pin 94;

In using the'mechanism of the; present invention the spool unit A- andthe fastener C' are mounted on` suitable supports in spaced relationandy preferably at about the same level orK i'n a common horizontalplane. When the deviceisnot inuse'the fastenerC is entirely disconnectedfrom Vthe" unit A and the lines L of the" line assembly arewoundv onthespool I` While the cross arm lo closes the opening 38- in the'housing ofunit A. 'Ilo put' the lines incondition for use, assuming the lock meansI5 to be released as shown in Fig. 6, the operator grasps the cross arm'l0 of the line assembly and withdraws the lines L from the spool,causing rotation of the spool against the re sistance of the spring 40until the cross arm is in position to be engaged with the hooks B8 ofmeans C. The operating arm 80 of means C is in an extended position suchas is shown in Fig. l when initially engaged by the cross arm of theline assembly. With the parts in this position the lock means I5 is setor engaged, stopping any further rotation of the spool or furtherwithdrawal of the lines from unit A. To tension the lines the lever 80is swung down or in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fi'g. 1f, andas suol-r movement of the arm occurs the 'la-tch arm'- 90f hold'sthe arm8U' operated' throughthe ratchet action above-y described. The apparatusisrthen in condition for use anclwitl'rI the lines Ill-extended and'-taut itiseffective for' carrying clothes or thelike;

To release the apparatus after the use of the lines' hasfbeen completedthey lock means t5l is disengaged andy the ratchet arm 9-I isdisengaged; allowing the cross arm 10 to be freed from the hookstl:Thefspri'ng ltensioned during with-- drawal of( the` lines tlien acts torotate the spool winding't-he lines ontothe spoolY until such time asthe crossf arm reaches the front 36 off the unit A. In the fullyreturned position the body 'P3 of the crosse arm'- 'lllA closes theAopening 38', thus sealing the line carrying` spool so that dirt orVVforeign matter does notv reach theI lines Should' the cross arm- 102' beaccidentally released or'- shouldv there be a'tendencyto return thelinesat an excessive speed, the safety means I6 acts to check rotation ofthespool.

Having described only atypical preferred form and applicationI offmyfinvention, 'If donot wish to be limited1 or restricted" 'to the specificdetails herein set forth, but' wishl to reserve Ato myself anyvariations or modioations that'A :may appear to those skilled in the artandfalI within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

l A spool unit including, ahousing having a base plate with projectingvarms and acover at.- tached tov "the plate-- and having a linepassingopening, a spool inl the housingV rotatablysupported'- on said arms, acore fixed to theV arms and loeated'l within the' spool, a springsurrounding the core and having one end attachedto-the core and theother end attachedl to the spool, and' a manually" operable lock mountedin one of said' armsand engage'able' with the spool to setl it againstrotation;

2. A spool unit including, a housnghaving -a stationary base plate withspaced` arms, rigidl in# wardly projecting trunnions on 'said arms and acovery attached to th-e plate and having aline passingA openinga spoolinthe'housing rotatably supported on said trunnions, and springs meanswithin the spool normally tending to rotate it, and a manually operablelockvcarried by one of said arms and engageable with the spool to holdit against rotation- 3. A spool unit including, a housingV having a baseplate with spa-ced arms, inwardly projecting trunnions on the arms and acover` attached to the plate andV having a linepassing opening,

a spool in the housing rotatablyv supportedy on the trunnions, a springwithin the spool normally'tendingf'to rotate it; said springbeingoonnected to said spool and one of' theA trunnions', arcentrifugally'operated safety stop for the spool, said safety stopbeing mounted on the spool and engaging one of said spaced arms and amanually operable lock carried by one arm engageable with the spool tohold it against rotation.

4. In a device of the character described applicable to spaced supports,a spool unit applicable to one support and including a rotatable springloaded spool and a housing for the spool and having a line passingopening therein, a line having its inner end xed to the spool unit andnormally wound on the spool, and a releasable fastener mounted on across arm and applicable to the other support, said cross arm holdingthe outer end of the line when the line is extended from the spool, saidcross arm closing the said opening-in the housing when the line is-fully wound on the spool, said housing including two elongate channelshaped opposed sections with engaged flanges and projecting arms on oneo1. said sections closing the ends of the structure formed by thesections, said projecting arms supporting said spool, said line passingopening being in a part of the other section, said part eX- tendingdownwardly and inwardly.

5. In Va device of the character described, a line carrying spool, and ahousing enclosing the spool and including two channel shaped opposedsections and end arms, the sections having engaged ilanges and onesection being a mounting bracket, said bracket carrying said end armsand having means to support said spool and the other section being acover secured to the end arms and having a line passing opening therein.6. In a device of the character described, a line carrying spool, and ahousing enclosing the spool and including two channel shaped opposedsections, one channel shaped section being a mounting bracket with avertical portion and having integral horizontal flanges projectingforwardly from the upper and lower edges of the vertical portion and endarms having means supporting said spool and the other channel shapedsection being a cover with a front portion having a line passing openingtherein and having anges integral with said front portion and projectingfrom said front portion and engaged with said flanges on'said mountingbracket. 7. In a device of the character described, a spool carrying valine, a housing enclosing said spool and having end arms Awith inwardlyprojecting trunnions having means including end plates rotatablysupporting the spool, a core carried by said end plates, said corebeing, disposed Within said spool, and a spring surrounding the corewith one end anchored to said core and the other end attached to saidspool, there being spring guiding angesy on said end plates overly theend portions of the core.

8. In -a device of the character described, a spool carrying a line, ahousing enclosing the spool and having end arms with inwardly projectingtrunnions having means including end plates rotatably supportingA thespool, a core carried by said trunnions and located within the spool,and a spring-,surrounding said core with one end anchored to said coreand the other end attached to said spool, the trunnions beingnon-rotatably mountedin openings in said end arms and projecting fromsaid end arms through said end plates of the spool, there being heads onthe trunnions supporting the core.

9. In a device of the character described, a housing having end armswith aligned openings, trunnions carried in said openings and projectinginwardly from saidend arms, a spool including end plates rotatablymounted on said trunnions and a cylindrical part carried .by andextending between said end plates, a line carriedby saidcylindrical'part, a core carried by and extending between saidtrunnions, and a spring around said core with one end anchored to saidcore and the other end attached to said spool, said end arms havingflanges projecting over saidend plates, said anges confining said lineto the spool.

10. In a device of the character described, a housing having end armswith aligned openings, trunnions carried in said openings and projectinginwardly Yfrom said end arms, a spool including end plates rotatablymounted on said trunnions and a cylindrical part carried by andextending between said end plates,y a line carried i by said spool, acore within the spool carried by and extending between said trunnions,and'a spring around said core with one end anchored to said core and theother end attached to said spool, said end plates having spring guidingilanges projecting over the end portions of said core, and said end armshaving flanges projecting beyond the ends lof said spool, saidlast-named flanges confining the line to the spool.

11. In a device of the character described-a housing comprising end armswith aligned openings and having two sections extending between the endarms, one section being a mounting section and the other being a coversection, trunnions carried in the openings and projecting inwardly fromthe end arms, a spool including `discs rotatably mounted on thetrunnions anda cylindrical part carried by and extending between thediscs, a line carried by the spool, a core within the spool carried byand extending between the trunnions, and a spring around the core withone end anchored to the core and the other end attached to the spool,the housing completely encasing the spool and the sections ofthehousinghaving engaging anges extending between the end arms.

' JAMESC. BORUP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references 'are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS' 2,370,520 Bondel Feb. 27, 1945

